Zpark Energy Systems announces a collaboration with Einride, Chalmers and RISE
Press release from Zpark
Zpark is entering a co-operation with freight mobility technology company Einride, Chalmers University of Technology and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden to find new circular business models related to electric vehicles and charging solutions. The project aims to explore and demonstrate the benefits and potential challenges of using decommissioned LFP batteries from vehicles as stationary energy storage systems for charging of heavy-duty electric trucks. The project is co-funded by FFI (Fordonsstrategisk Forskning & Innovation), and will continue until early 2025.
The electrification of the transport sector has advanced rapidly. However, today there are still many uncertainties related to batteries, specifically in how they should be managed once they are too degraded to be used in vehicles. Furthermore, as the number of batteries in use will increase exponentially in the coming years, the supply of used batteries will be significant. Given the limited resources of the raw materials used in batteries, increasing circularity and using batteries efficiently is crucial.
“We are really excited about the project and look forward to finding new circular solutions together with Einride, Chalmers and RISE. The ambition is to improve the cost efficiency of an electrified transport system and reduce the load on the electricity grid by exploring a second life for vehicle batteries. Our mission at Zpark is to create cost-effective and profitable energy and charging solutions, and our focus is always on finding the best technical solution possible.” says Zpark’s Head of Product Jonathan Jönsson.
As the transport sector accounts for nearly a third of all climate emissions in Sweden today, increasing circularity is key in reaching climate targets. The innovation project builds on the benefits of integrating digitalization into the transport system, together with the opportunities that an energy storage system provides. The project will consist of three phases – following an initial setup and planning, Zpark will build a full-scale stationary battery charging station powered by second-life LFP batteries. The third and final phase focuses on integration of the new system in Einride’s intelligent mobility platform.
“At Einride, sustainability is at the core of everything we do, and we are happy to be part of this collaboration highlighting the lifecycle of batteries in our vehicles. This project is in line with our work to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of electric freight mobility, to accelerate the transition to a smarter, safer and cleaner way to move goods.” says Andreas Allström, Director of Public Funding and Research Collaboration at Einride.
“At Chalmers, we are eager to engage in this project as it fits perfect within a lot of related research we carry out on electrification of the transport system and the management of degraded vehicle batteries. It also gives new research insights on effective logistics management in an electrified transport system, which is an area that is less researched.” says Patricia van Loon, docent at Chalmers.
“We are glad to support this industrial project as part of our research focus on battery recycling and circularity. At RISE, we contribute to several areas of prototyping and innovation to realize the critical opportunity in products getting a new life after their first use and, as such, we are eager to collaborate with our partners in this project to demonstrate battery circularity in stationary energy storage systems powered by second-life LFP batteries.” says Sara Fallahi, Director of Technologies for Interaction at RISE Prototyping Societies.
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